Kenneth MacAskill was born in 1901, the son of John MacAskill and Effie MacLeod, cottars on 9 Ruisgarry (Gunhill), later moving to Rhuvanish. He was a pupil at Berneray School between 1907 and 1916, later working as a fisherman.

He had a son, Roderick, with Peggy MacLeod of Backhill.

Kenneth lived in Glasgow for a while, and was passed the house at Rhuvanish following his father’s death.